Printing apparatus, control method of printing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a printing unit to start printing on sheets after confirming that a number of sheets used for printing does not exceed an upper limit number of sheets bindable by a first binding processing in a case where the first binding processing is specified and control the printing unit to start printing on sheets without confirming that a number of sheets used for printing does not exceed an upper limit number of sheets bindable by a second binding processing in a case where the second binding processing is specified.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/415,499, filed on Jan. 25, 2017, which claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2016-016362, filed Jan. 29, 2016, whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of Art

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which prints animage on a sheet.

Description of the Related Art

As a post-processing function executable by a printing apparatus, aprinting apparatus may be provided with a staple binding function ofbinding a plurality of printed sheets by using a staple. Further, thereis provided a printing apparatus having a staple-less binding functionof binding sheets without using a binding member such as a staple (seeJapanese Application Laid-Open No. 2010-189101). Furthermore, in recentyears, there has been provided a printing apparatus having both of thestaple binding function and the staple-less binding function (e.g.,Japanese Application Laid-Open No. 2013-170066).

SUMMARY

Further, in order to improve the printing efficiency, there is a knowntechnique in which a printing apparatus starts printing when image datanecessary for printing a first page is generated instead of waiting forall of the image data used for printing to be generated.

Generally, an upper limit number of sheets (e.g., approximately fivesheets at the maximum) bindable by the staple-less binding processing inwhich the sheets are bound without using a binding member such as astaple is less than that of the staple binding processing in which thesheets are bound by using a staple. Accordingly, when a user specifiesthe staple-less binding processing in which the sheets are bound withoutusing a staple, the number of sheets is likely to exceed the upper limitnumber of sheets bindable thereby, and thus there is a high possibilityof causing a situation in which the binding processing cannot beexecuted. On the other hand, generally, several tens of sheets can bebound by the above-described staple binding processing in which thesheets are bound by using the staple. Accordingly, when a user specifiesthe staple binding processing in which the sheets are bound by using astaple, the number of sheets is less likely to exceed the upper limitnumber of sheets bindable thereby, and thus a possibility of causing asituation in which the binding processing cannot be executed is lowerthan in the case of the staple-less binding processing.

Here, it is desirable that printing be stopped without outputting any ofthe sheets when the binding processing cannot be executed because thenumber of sheets to be printed exceeds the upper limit number of sheetsbindable by the binding processing. In order to realize theabove-described configuration, the printing apparatus may start printingthe sheets after confirming that the number of sheets to be printed isequal to or less than the upper limit number of bindable sheets.

However, if the printing apparatus uniformly starts printing the sheetsafter confirming that the number of sheets to be printed is equal to orless than the upper limit number of bindable sheets when the bindingprocessing is specified, there is a risk in which the convenience israther lowered. For example, when the staple binding processing isspecified, although a possibility of causing a situation in which thesheets cannot be bound is low, printing is on hold until it is confirmedthat the number of sheets does not exceed the upper limit number ofbindable sheets, and thus the printing efficiency will be loweredconsiderably.

On the other hand, when the staple-less binding processing is specified,a possibility of causing a situation in which the binding processingcannot be executed is relatively high. Therefore, even if the printingefficiency is lowered, it is preferable that printing be started afterit is confirmed that the number of sheets does not exceed the upperlimit number of bindable sheets.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a user-friendly printingapparatus capable of switching a print start timing according to thetype of specified binding processing.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatusaccording to the present disclosure includes a printing unit configuredto print images on sheets, a generation unit configured to generateimages used for printing, a first binding unit configured to executefirst binding processing on sheets, a second binding unit configured toexecute second binding processing on sheets, which is capable ofexecuting binding processing on sheets of a number greater than an upperlimit number of sheets bindable by the first binding processing, and acontrol unit configured to control the printing unit to start printingon sheets after confirming that a number of sheets used for printingdoes not exceed the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the firstbinding unit in a case where the binding processing executed by thefirst binding unit is specified, and control the printing unit to startprinting on sheets without confirming that a number of sheets used forprinting does not exceed an upper limit number of sheets bindable by thesecond binding unit in a case where the binding processing executed bythe second binding unit is specified.

Further features of the present embodiment will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing processing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of amultifunction peripheral (MFP).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen displayed on theoperation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen displayed on theoperation unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of printingprocessing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of printingprocessing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of printingprocessing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen displayed on theoperation unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail withreference to the appended drawings. Further, the embodiments describedhereinafter are not intended to limit the content of the invention asdescribed in the appended claims, and not all of the combinations offeatures described in the exemplary embodiments are required.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing processing systemaccording to a first exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplaryembodiment, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) 101 and a personal computer(PC) 102 will be described as respective examples of a printingapparatus and an information processing apparatus. The MFP 101 and thePC 102 are communicably connected to each other via a network 100.

In the present exemplary embodiment, although a printing processingsystem including the MFP 101 and the PC 102 will be described as anexample, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. Forexample, only the MFP 101 may be referred to as the printing processingsystem.

First, the PC 102 will be described. The PC 102 can execute variousprograms such as application programs. Further, a printer driver havinga function of converting print content into print data to be transmittedto the MFP 101 is installed in the PC 102. A user who would like toexecute printing can provide a printing instruction through variousapplications. The printer driver installed in the PC 102 can convertdata output by the application into print data readable by the MFP 101based on the printing instruction, and transmit the print data to theMFP 101 connected to the network 100.

Next, the MFP 101 will be described. The MFP 101 has a reading functionof reading an image on a sheet and a printing function of printing animage on a sheet. Further, the MFP 101 has a post-processing function ofbinding a plurality of sheets on which images are printed or aligning aplurality of sheets.

In the present exemplary embodiment, although the MFP 101 will bedescribed as an example of the printing apparatus, the printingapparatus is not limited thereto. For example, the printing apparatusmay be a single function peripheral (SFP) which does not have a readingfunction. In the present exemplary embodiment, a printing apparatushaving various constituent elements described below will be given as anexample.

A control unit 110 including a central processing unit (CPU) 111controls an entire operation of the MFP 101. The CPU 111 reads a controlprogram stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 112 or a storage 114 andexecutes various kinds of control such as reading control and printingcontrol. The ROM 112 stores a control program that can be executed bythe CPU 111. A random-access memory (RAM) 113 is a main memory of theCPU 111 and used as a work area or a temporary storage area for loadingvarious control programs. The storage 114 stores image data, print data,various programs, and various kinds of setting information. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, although it is assumed that an auxiliarystorage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) is used as the storage114, a non-volatile memory such as a solid-state drive (SSD) may be usedinstead of the HDD.

Further, in the MFP 101 of the present exemplary embodiment, although asingle CPU 111 uses a single memory (i.e., RAM 113) to executerespective pieces of processing illustrated in below-describedflowcharts, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. Forexample, respective pieces of processing illustrated in below-describedflowcharts may be cooperatively executed by a plurality of CPUs, RAMs,ROMs, and storages. Further, a part of the processing may be executed bya hardware circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

An operation unit interface (I/F) 115 connects an operation unit 116 andthe control unit 110. The operation unit 116 includes a liquid crystaldisplay unit having a touch panel function and various hard keys, so asto function as a display unit for displaying information and a receivingunit for receiving an instruction of a user.

A reading unit I/F 117 connects a reading unit 118 and the control unit110. The reading unit 118 reads a document and generates an image.Further, the generated image is stored in the storage 114. The imagegenerated by the reading unit 118 is transmitted to an externalapparatus or printed on a sheet.

A printing unit I/F 119 connects a printing unit 120 and the controlunit 110. An image used for printing is transferred from the controlunit 110 to the printing unit 120 via the printing unit I/F 119. Theprinting unit 120 receives a control command and an image to be used forprinting via the control unit 110, and prints the image on a sheet.

A sheet processing unit I/F 121 connects a sheet processing unit 122 andthe control unit 110. The sheet processing unit 122 receives a controlcommand via the control unit 110, and executes post-processing on asheet printed by the printing unit 120 according to the control command.For example, the sheet processing unit 122 executes post-processing forbinding a plurality of sheets. Further, post-processing function orpost-processing capacity provided by the sheet processing unit 122 isnotified to the control unit 110 via the sheet processing unit I/F 121in advance (e.g., when the MFP 101 is activated), so as to be notifiedto the storage 114 or the RAM 113. In the present exemplary embodiment,the sheet processing unit 122 can execute at least binding processingfor binding sheets by using a binding member such as a staple(hereinafter, referred to as “staple binding processing”) and bindingprocessing for binding sheets without using the binding member(hereinafter, referred to as “staple-less binding processing”).

Further, the control unit 110 is connected to the network 100 via acommunication unit I/F 123. The CPU 111 transmits images and informationto an external apparatus connected to the network 100 or receives printdata and information from an information processing apparatus connectedto the network 100 via the communication unit I/F 123.

An image processing unit 124 executes image processing on an image readby the reading unit 118 or an image to be transferred to the printingunit 120. The image processing unit 124 can read an image stored in thestorage 114 or the RAM 113 and execute rotation processing, layoutprocessing, and scaling processing of the image. In the presentexemplary embodiment, although it is assumed that the image processingunit 124 is realized with a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA,the present exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example,the MFP 101 may further include an image processing processor, so thatthe image processing processor realizes the image processing withrespect to the image by executing an image processing program. In thiscase, the image processing processor and the CPU 111 cooperativelyrealize the flowcharts described below. Further, the CPU 111 may executethe image processing on the image by executing a program for executingthe image processing. Further, the image processing may be executed bycombining any of the above-described configurations.

Subsequently, the printing unit 120 will be described. FIG. 2 is adiagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of the MFP 101. The MFP 101is broadly configured as the printing unit 120 for printing an image ona sheet (e.g., a plain paper, a thick paper, or a transparency film) andthe reading unit 118 for reading a document and generating an image.First, printing processing and post-processing executed on a sheet willbe described. In FIG. 2, the sheet processing unit 122 is arrangedinside of the housing of the MFP 101 as an inner finisher. However, thearrangement of the sheet processing unit 122 is not limited to theexample illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, the sheet processing unit122 may be adjacently connected to the MFP 101.

A storing unit 201 includes two cassettes 201 a and 201 b, and thecassettes 201 a and 201 b can store sheets of the same type or size, orrespective sheets of different types or sizes.

A feeding roller 203 feeds a sheet stored for each of the cassettes 201a and 201 b to the printing unit 120. The printing unit 120 prints animage on a first face of the fed sheet. Further, the printing unit 120may execute printing through an electrophotographic printing method oran ink jet printing method. Furthermore, a printing method other thanthe above can be also employed.

When one-sided printing is executed, a sheet printed by the printingunit 120 is guided by conveyance rollers 205 and 206, so as to beconveyed to the sheet processing unit 122 and discharged to anintermediate tray 220. When two-sided printing is executed, a sheet onwhich printing is executed on the first face by the printing unit 120 isguided by conveyance rollers 208, so as to be conveyed to an inversionpath 210. When a trailing end of the sheet has reached a place in avicinity of conveyance rollers 209, the conveyance rollers 209 startrotating in a reverse direction, so that the sheet is conveyed in adirection of the printing unit 120 via a conveyance path 212 fortwo-sided printing. After the printing unit 120 prints an image on thesecond face of the sheet, the sheet on which two-sided printing isexecuted is guided by the conveyance rollers 205 and 206, so as to bedischarged to the intermediate tray 220.

The intermediate tray 220 is disposed in an inclined state in which adownstream side portion (left side portion in FIG. 2) thereof in a sheetconveyance direction is positioned on the upper side in a verticaldirection whereas an upstream side portion (right side portion in FIG.2) thereof in the sheet conveyance direction is positioned on the lowerside in the vertical direction, so that a plurality of sheets can bestored thereby. Further, the intermediate tray 220 includes a bundledischarge roller pair 218 configured as a pair of upper and lower bundledischarge rollers 218 a and 218 b arranged on the downstream side and adrawing paddle 215 arranged on the upper side in an intermediary portionthereof. The upper bundle discharge roller 218 a is supported by a guide217.

This guide 217 is movable in an up-down direction by a motor (notillustrated). Therefore, the upper bundle discharge roller 218 aarranged on the guide 217 is contactable to and separable from the lowerbundle discharge roller 218 b according to the up-down movement of theguide 217. Accordingly, a space between the bundle discharge roller pair218 can be adjusted according to the thickness of the bundle of sheetsstored in the intermediate tray 220.

In a state where the guide 217 is moved upward, the CPU 111 causes asheet P discharged by the conveyance roller 206 to be stacked on theintermediate tray 220.

Further, respective alignment members 221 are arranged on a near sideand a far side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyancedirection of the intermediate tray 220. The alignment members 221 aremoved in the width direction by a motor (not illustrated). Here, “nearside” refers to a portion near to a sheet surface of FIG. 3, whereas“far side” refers to a portion far from the sheet surface in a depthdirection thereof when the MFP 101 is viewed from the orientationillustrated in FIG. 3. The drawing paddle 215 rotates about a rotatingshaft in a direction in which the sheet is pressed toward a stopper 216(i.e., counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2).

The sheet discharged to the intermediate tray 220 slides down a stackingface of the intermediate tray 220 or a sheet stacked on the intermediatetray 220 because of the inclination of the intermediate tray 220 and asheet pressing force applied from the drawing paddle 215. The sheetdischarged to the intermediate tray 220 is aligned by the alignmentmembers 221 while sliding down and being stopped when a trailing end ofthe sheet abuts on the stopper 216.

A sheet bundle aligned on the intermediate tray 220 is bound by a staplebinding unit 214 a or a staple-less binding unit 214 b as necessary. Thestaple binding unit 214 a or the staple-less binding unit 214 b can binda rear end portion in a conveyance direction of the sheet bundle storedin the intermediate tray 220. In the present exemplary embodiment,although the sheet bundle is bound at the rear end portion in theconveyance direction thereof, the exemplary embodiment is not limitedthereto, and the sheet bundle stored in the intermediate tray 220 may bebound at a leading end portion in the conveyance direction thereof.

The staple binding unit 214 a executes binding processing by pushing ametallic staple wire (not illustrated) into a sheet bundle. For example,a sheet bundle of up to fifty sheets can be bound by the staple bindingprocessing to be executed by the staple-binding unit 214 a. On the otherhand, the staple-less binding unit 214 b executes binding processing byapplying a pressure force to a sheet bundle so as to pressurize andtangle the fibers of the sheets. Accordingly, the staple-less bindingunit 214 b can execute binding processing without using a bindingmember. For example, a sheet bundle of up to five sheets can be bound bythe staple-less binding processing to be executed by the staple-lessbinding unit 214 b.

In the present exemplary embodiment, an upper limit number of sheetsbindable by the staple binding processing in which the sheets are boundby the staple binding unit 214 a is assumed as fifty sheets. Further, anupper limit number of sheets bindable by the staple-less bindingprocessing in which the sheets are bound by the staple-less binding unit214 b is assumed as five sheets. These upper limit numbers of sheets arestored in the storage 114. In addition, the upper limit numbers ofsheets are not limited to the above. For example, the upper limit numberof sheets may vary in types or grammages of the sheets used forprinting. For example, if the sheets are thin papers, the upper limitnumber of sheets bindable by the staple binding processing may be set toseventy sheets. Further, for example, the upper limit number of thinsheets bindable by the staple-less binding processing may be set toseven sheets. In this case, the upper limit number of bindable sheets isstored with respect to each of the types or the grammages of the sheets.Further, the user may be allowed to change the upper limit number ofsheets bindable by the staple-less binding processing or the staplebinding processing.

Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, although thestaple-less binding unit 214 b configured to bind sheets by pressurizingthe fibers of the sheets has been described as an example, the presentexemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, a cut portionand a tongue-shaped portion may be formed on a part of the sheet bundle,and the sheets may be bound by inserting a leading end of thetongue-shaped portion into the cut portion. Further, toner used forprinting may be used as adhesive toner for binding the sheets, and thesheets are bound with welded toner by applying heat and pressure to aportion where the adhesive toner is applied.

The sheet bundle on which post-processing such as the binding processingis executed by the sheet processing unit 122 is discharged to adischarge portion 207. Specifically, the guide 217 is moved to make theupper bundle discharge roller 218 a abut on the uppermost sheet stackedon the intermediate tray 220, and the bundle discharge roller pair 218is driven and rotated while the upper bundle discharge roller 218 a isabutting on the sheet, so that the post-processed sheet bundle isdischarged to the discharge portion 207.

Subsequently, reading processing to be executed by the reading unit 118will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagramillustrating a cross-sectional view of the reading unit 118. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, documents set on a document setting unit(also referred to as “document tray”) 302 are conveyed by a documentconveyance unit (also referred to as “auto document feeder (ADF)”) 300,so that the reading unit 118 can read the documents conveyed thereto.Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, description will be givento an exemplary embodiment in which a CPU (not illustrated) thatexecutes control of the reading unit 118 cooperates with the CPU 111 tocontrol the conveyance of documents to be executed by the ADF 300.

The ADF 300 includes a separation roller 304 and a separation pad 305for supplying a document from a bundle of documents set on the documenttray 302 to the conveyance path. The bundle of documents is individuallyseparated by a frictional force of the separation roller 304 and theseparation pad 305. Further, a document detection sensor 301 is providedon the document tray 302. A setting state of the documents on thedocument tray 302 can be detected by the document detection sensor 301.

A separated document is conveyed to a platen 312 via rollers 301, 306,308, and 309. Then, the document that is conveyed while being broughtinto contact with the platen 312 is further conveyed by rollers 311 and307, so as to be discharged to a discharge tray 322.

Further, the reading unit 118 starts reading a first face of thedocument at a timing at which a leading end of the document conveyedfrom the document tray 302 reaches a reading position on the platen 312.When a time for starting the reading processing has come, the readingunit 118 turns on a light source within an optical unit 313 to emitlight to the document passing a surface of the platen 312. The lightreflected from the document enters a line sensor 316 via a plurality ofmirrors within the optical unit 313 and a mirror unit 314. The linesensor 316 converts the light reflected from the document into anelectric signal. For example, a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensoris used as the line sensor 316. The electric signal is converted into animage through an analog/digital (A/D) converter (not illustrated) andstored in the storage 114 of the control unit 110.

Next, processing for reading both sides of the document will bedescribed. When the reading unit 118 reads both sides of the document,the reading unit 118 switches a rotation direction of the roller 307 tothe opposite direction after reading a first face of the document, sothat the document is guided in a direction of an inversion path 317instead of being discharged to the discharge tray 322. The reading unit118 reads a second face of the document conveyed in a direction of theinversion path 317 in a same manner as in the first face, and generatesan image corresponding to the second face. The document that has passedthough the reading position is conveyed by the rollers 311 and 307, soas to be discharged to the discharge tray 322.

When a bundle of documents of a plurality of pages is to be readconsecutively, the reading unit 118 generates images of the plurality ofpages by repeatedly executing the above-described processing.

Further, the reading unit 118 can read a document that is set to apredetermined position of the document plate 320 with an image facethereof as a reading target facing downward. In order to read thedocument set to the document plate 320, the reading unit 118 moves theoptical unit 313 and the mirror unit 314 at a predetermined speed toread an image of the set document.

Next, a copy function according to the present exemplary embodiment willbe described. In the present exemplary embodiment, a copy function willbe described as an example of the function of printing an image on asheet. The copy function is a function of printing on a sheet an imageread and acquired from a document.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy setting screendisplayed on the operation unit 116. A setting screen 400 illustrated inFIG. 4 is an example of an initial screen of the copy function. A userwho uses the MFP 101 can select the copy function from a main screen(not illustrated) displayed on the operation unit 116. The CPU 111displays the setting screen 400 when a user presses a copy function keydisplayed on the main screen.

The user can perform various copy settings via the setting screen 400.For example, the user can perform various settings such as a setting ofa number of print copies, a setting of black/white printing or colorprinting, a setting of two-sided printing, and a setting of pageaggregation. In addition, the copy setting includes a large number ofsetting items which are not illustrated in FIG. 4. Therefore, it isdifficult to perform all of the settings through a single screen.Accordingly, the user performs setting of respective items by shiftingthe screen to a setting screen separately provided for each of thesetting items.

A finishing key 401 is used when post-processing is executed on aprinted sheet. The user can specify the post-processing with respect tothe printed sheet by pressing the finishing key 401. In the presentexemplary embodiment, the user can specify staple binding processing orstaple-less binding processing as the post-processing.

Further, a two-sided key 402 is used when two-sided printing isexecuted. The user can set whether to execute printing on one side orboth sides of the sheet by pressing the two-sided key 402. Further, apage aggregation key 403 is a setting key for aggregating and printing aplurality of documents on one sheet by reducing the size of thedocuments. By pressing the page aggregation key 403, the user can set“two-in-one” in which two pages of documents are aggregated and printedon one sheet or “four-in-one” in which four pages of documents areaggregated and printed on one sheet.

The CPU 111 stores the setting input through the copy setting screen inthe RAM 113 as a print setting, and executes a copy job according to theprint setting stored in the RAM 113 when a start key (not illustrated)is selected.

In order to improve the printing efficiency, there is a known method inwhich the printing apparatus starts printing the sheets beforecompleting the reading processing of all of the documents to be printedon the sheets when the copy job is executed. In the present exemplaryembodiment, normally, in order to improve the printing efficiency, theprinting apparatus is also controlled so as to start printing the sheetsbefore completing the reading processing of all of the documents to beprinted on the sheets.

Here, in a case where binding processing is specified as a printsetting, the printing apparatus executes the binding processing on aplurality of sheets on which images are printed after printing theimages thereon.

An upper limit number of sheets (e.g., approximately five sheets)bindable by the staple-less binding processing in which the sheets arebound by the staple-less binding unit 214 b is less than that of thestaple binding processing in which the sheets are bound by the staplebinding unit 214 a. Accordingly, when a user specifies the staple-lessbinding processing, the number of sheets is likely to exceed the upperlimit number of sheets bindable thereby, and thus a possibility ofcausing a situation in which the binding processing cannot be executedis assumed to be high.

As described above, when copy or printing processing is executed, it isdesirable for the user to stop printing without outputting any of thesheets in a case where a desired output cannot be acquired because thenumber of sheets to be output exceeds the upper limit number ofpost-processible sheets.

However, it is difficult to stop printing without outputting any of thesheets if the printing apparatus is controlled so as to start printingthe sheets before completing the reading processing of all of thedocuments to be printed on the sheets in order to improve the printingefficiency.

On the other hand, several tens of sheets can be bound by theabove-described staple binding. Accordingly, when a user specifies thestaple binding processing in which the sheets are bound by using astaple, the number of sheets is less likely to exceed the upper limitnumber of sheets bindable thereby, and thus a possibility of causing asituation in which the binding processing cannot be executed is lowerthan in the case of the staple-less binding processing.

Here, in order to stop printing without outputting any of the sheets,the printing apparatus may be controlled so as to start printing thesheets after confirming that the number of the sheets to be printed isequal to or less than the upper limit number of bindable sheets.

However, if the printing apparatus is controlled as described above,even in a case where the staple binding processing is to be executed,the printing apparatus starts printing the sheets after confirming thatthe number of sheets to be printed is equal to or less than the upperlimit number of sheets bindable thereby. For example, if the upper limitnumber of sheets bindable by the staple binding processing is fiftysheets, execution of printing is delayed until the images to be printedon the maximum of fifty sheets are generated. Accordingly, althoughthere is a low possibility of causing a situation in which the bindingprocessing cannot be executed, the printing efficiency is lowered, andthus the convenience of the user will be lowered.

On the other hand, when the staple-less binding processing is executed,the upper limit number of bindable sheets is approximately five sheets.Accordingly, the number of sheets to be printed is likely to exceed theupper limit number of bindable sheets, and thus there is a highpossibility of causing a situation in which the binding processingcannot be executed.

In this case, convenience of the user can be improved if printing isstopped without outputting any of the sheets when the number of sheetsto be printed exceeds the upper limit number of bindable sheets. Here,when the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the staple-lessbinding processing is five sheets, whether the number of sheets to beprinted is equal to or less than the upper limit number of sheets can beconfirmed if the printing processing is on hold until the images to beprinted on five sheets at the maximum are generated. Accordingly, evenif the printing apparatus is controlled so as to start printing afterconfirming that the number of sheets to be printed is equal to or lessthan the upper limit number of bindable sheets, a period in which theprinting processing is on hold is shorter than in a case of executingthe staple binding processing.

In consideration of the above situation, in the present exemplaryembodiment, description will be given to an exemplary embodiment inwhich a timing at which printing is started is switched depending onwhether to execute the staple binding processing in which the sheets arebound by the staple binding unit 214 a or the staple-less bindingprocessing in which the sheets are bound by the staple-less binding unit214 b. A specific printing control method will be described withreference to the below-described flowcharts.

First, a setting of the MFP 101 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagramillustrating an example of a setting screen of the MFP 101 displayed onthe operation unit 116. A user of the MFP 101 can set a mode forexecuting the staple-less binding processing via a screen 500. Abinding-priority key 502 is used for changing the mode to a mode whichallows the user to start printing after confirming that the number ofsheets to be printed is equal to or less than the upper limit number ofsheets bindable by the staple-less binding processing. A printingspeed-priority key 503 is used for changing the mode to a mode whichallows the user to start printing the sheets before reading processingof all of the documents to be printed on the sheets is completed inorder to improve the printing efficiency. The keys 502 and 503 areprovided as exclusive keys which the user can select only one or theother.

An OK key 505 is used for applying change of the mode performed via thescreen 500. Further, a cancel key 504 is used for cancelling the changeof setting performed via the screen 500. A mode setting for executingthe staple-less binding processing is stored in the RAM 113 or thestorage 114 and is referred to as appropriate in the processingillustrated in the below-described flowcharts.

A specific method for controlling the printing processing will bedescribed with reference to flowcharts. FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowchartsillustrating the operations of the MFP 101 which are to be started whena copy function is selected by the user via a menu screen displayed whenthe MFP 101 is activated.

The CPU 111 of the MFP 101 realizes respective operations (steps)illustrated in flowcharts in FIGS. 6 to 8 by executing a control programstored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114.

In step S601, the CPU 111 receives a setting regarding the copyprocessing. Here, the user can perform various settings such as a copynumber setting, a post-processing setting, a two-sided printing setting,and a page aggregation setting. In step S602, if the instruction forexecuting copy processing is received (YES in step S602), the processingproceeds to step S603. If the instruction for executing copy processingis not received (NO in step S602), the processing returns to step S601.

In step S603, the CPU 111 starts reading processing of documents. Thereading processing of documents will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 7. In addition, the reading processing of documents instep S603 will be executed asynchronously and concurrently with theprocessing in step S604 and the subsequent steps. In other words,regardless of progress of the processing in step S604 and the subsequentsteps, the reading processing is sequentially executed until thedocuments to be read have been read completely, while the processing instep S604 and the subsequent steps is executed in concurrent with thereading processing.

Hereinafter, the reading processing will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 7. In step S701, the CPU 111 controls the reading unit118 to read an image of one page. Specifically, the CPU 111 controls theADF 300 to start conveying a document. The reading unit 118 generates animage of one page by reading the conveyed document, and stores the imagein the storage 114. After the image of one page is generated, theprocessing proceeds to step S702.

In step S702, the CPU 111 increments the counter P by one. In addition,the counter P is a variable number for storing the number of images(i.e., the number of pages of read documents) stored in the storage 114.

In step S703, the CPU 111 updates information of the number of sheets tobe printed based on the counter P and the print setting of the copy job.Description will be given by taking a specific example. Because an imageof one page is printed on one sheet when one-sided printing is set tothe print setting while page aggregation is not set thereto (i.e.,one-in-one), a value of the counter P represents the number of sheets tobe printed. Further, because an image of one page is printed for each ofthe front face and the back face of one sheet when two-sided printing isset while the page aggregation is not set thereto (i.e., one-in-one), avalue “P/2” represents the number of sheets to be printed. Furthermore,because images of two pages are printed on a first face of one sheetwhen one-sided printing and the page aggregation of “two-in-one” are setthereto, a value “P/2” represents the number of sheets to be printed.Further, when the page aggregation of “N-in-one”, e.g., “four-in-one” or“eight-in-one” is set thereto, a value “P/N” represents the number ofsheets to be printed. When the two-sided printing and the pageaggregation of “N-in-one” are set thereto, a value “P/(2N)” representsthe number of sheets to be printed. After the information of the numberof sheets to be printed is updated, the processing proceeds to stepS704.

In step S704, the CPU 111 determines whether reading processing of allof the documents has been completed. If the CPU 111 determines thatreading processing of all of the documents has been completed (YES instep S704), the CPU 111 stores a determination result indicatingcompletion of the reading processing in the RAM 113 and ends the readingprocessing. On the other hand, if the CPU 111 determines that thereading processing has not been completed (NO in step S704), theprocessing returns to step S701, so that the CPU 111 reads a nextdocument.

The processing in step S604 and the subsequent steps will be describedwith reference to FIG. 6 again. In step S604, the CPU 111 determineswhether binding processing is specified as the print setting of the copyjob. If the binding processing is specified (YES in step S604), theprocessing proceeds to step S605, and if the binding processing is notspecified (NO in step S604), the processing proceeds to step S607.

In step S605, the CPU 111 determines whether staple-less bindingprocessing is specified as the print setting of the copy job. If thestaple-less binding processing is specified (YES in step S605), theprocessing proceeds to step S606, and if the staple-less bindingprocessing is not specified (NO in step S605), the processing proceedsto step S607. In step S606, the CPU 111 determines whether abinding-priority mode is specified as a mode for executing thestaple-less binding processing. The CPU 111 acquires the mode forexecuting the staple-less binding processing stored in the RAM 113 orthe storage 114. If the acquired mode is “binding-priority” (YES in stepS606), the processing proceeds to step S615, and if the acquired mode isnot “binding-priority” but “printing speed-priority” (NO in step S606),the processing proceeds to step S607. In addition, the mode forexecuting the staple-less binding processing referred in step S605 ispreviously set to any of the modes via the screen 500 illustrated inFIG. 5.

In step S607, the CPU 111 determines whether an image to be printed onone sheet has been stored. At every predetermined interval (e.g., onesecond), the CPU 111 refers to the information of the number of sheetsto be printed updated through the processing in step S703 executedasynchronously and concurrently. If the referred information of thenumber of sheets to be printed indicates “1” or more (YES in step S607),the processing proceeds to step S608, and if the referred information ofthe number of sheets to be printed indicates “0” (NO in step S607), theCPU 111 repeats the processing in step S607 until the number of sheetsto be printed becomes “1” or more.

In step S608, the CPU 111 controls the printing unit 120 to print animage on a sheet. When the printing of one sheet has been completed, theprocessing proceeds to step S609. In step S609, the CPU 111 determineswhether printing of one copy has been completed. If the printing of onecopy has been completed (YES in step S609), the processing proceeds tostep S613, and if the printing of one copy has not been completed (NO instep S609), the processing proceeds to step S610.

In step S610, the CPU 111 determines whether the number of sheets to beprinted exceeds the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the bindingprocessing specified as the print setting of the copy job. If bindingprocessing is not specified as the print setting of the copy job, theCPU 111 determines that the number of sheets to be printed does notexceed the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the bindingprocessing, and the processing returns to step S608. Further, if thestaple binding processing is specified as the print setting of the copyjob, the CPU 111 refers to the information of the number of sheets to beprinted and determines whether the number of sheets to be printedexceeds the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the staple bindingprocessing. If the number of sheets to be printed exceeds the upperlimit number of sheets bindable by the staple binding processing (YES instep S610), the processing proceeds to step S611, and if the number ofsheets to be printed does not exceed the upper limit number of sheetsbindable thereby (NO in step S610), the processing returns to step S608.Further, if the staple-less binding processing is specified as the printsetting of the copy job, the CPU 111 refers to the information of thenumber of sheets to be printed and determines whether the number ofsheets to be printed exceeds the upper limit number of sheets bindableby the staple-less binding processing. If the number of sheets to beprinted exceeds the upper limit number of sheets bindable by thestaple-less binding processing (YES in step S610), the processingproceeds to step S611, and if the number of sheets to be printed doesnot exceed the upper limit number of sheets bindable thereby (NO in stepS610), the processing returns to step S608.

In step S611, the CPU 111 discharges a sheet bundle to the dischargeportion 207 without executing the binding processing based on the printsetting. In step S612, the CPU 111 changes the print setting of the copyjob to the setting which does not execute binding processing (i.e.,release specification of binding processing), and the processing returnsto step S608.

On the other hand, in step S613, the CPU 111 executes binding processingon the sheets as necessary based on the print setting, and dischargesthe sheets to the discharge portion 207. Here, if the binding processingis not specified as the print setting, the CPU 111 discharges the sheetswithout executing the binding processing.

In step S614, the CPU 111 determines whether printing has beencompleted. If printing of the set number of copies has not beencompleted (NO in step S614), the processing returns to step S608, and ifprinting of the set number of copies has been completed (YES in stepS614), a series of copy processing is ended.

Through the processing in steps S607 to 5614, the CPU 111 can startprinting the sheets at a timing at which the image necessary forprinting one sheet is stored. Further, if the number of sheets to beprinted exceeds the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the bindingprocessing during the printing processing, the CPU 111 can discharge thesheets without executing the binding processing.

Next, description will be given to the processing that is to be executedwhen the staple-less binding processing is specified while a mode of thestaple-less binding processing is “binding-priority” (i.e., when “YES”in step S606).

In step S615, the CPU 111 determines whether the number of sheets to beprinted exceeds the upper limit number of sheets bindable by thestaple-less binding processing. At every predetermined interval (e.g.,one second), the CPU 111 refers to the information of the number ofsheets to be printed that is updated through the processing in step S703executed asynchronously and concurrently. As a result of the reference,if the number of sheets to be printed exceeds the upper limit number ofsheets bindable by the staple-less binding processing (YES in stepS615), the processing proceeds to “A (step S801)” in FIG. 8. In stepS801 and the subsequent steps, the CPU 111 makes an inquiry aboutexecution of the copy job (details will be described below). On theother hand, as a result of the reference, if the number of sheets to beprinted does not exceed the upper limit number of sheets bindable by thestaple-less binding processing (NO in step S615), the processingproceeds to step S616.

In step S616, the CPU 111 determines whether reading processing of thedocuments has been completed. If a determination result indicatingcompletion of the reading processing is stored in the RAM 113 (YES instep S616), the processing proceeds to step S617. On the other hand, ifa determination result indicating completion of the reading processingis not stored in the RAM 113 (NO in step S616), the processing returnsto step S615.

Through the processing in steps S615 and 5616, the CPU 111 can start theprinting processing in step S617 and the subsequent steps afterconfirming that the number of sheets to be printed is equal to or lessthan the upper limit number of sheets bindable by the staple-lessbinding processing.

In step S617, the CPU 111 controls the printing unit 120 to print animage on a sheet. When the printing of one sheet has been completed, theprocessing proceeds to step S618. In step S618, the CPU 111 determineswhether printing of one copy has been completed. If the printing of onecopy has been completed (YES in step S618), the processing proceeds tostep S619, and if the printing of one copy has not been completed (NO instep S618), the processing returns to step S617.

In step S619, the CPU 111 controls the sheet processing unit 122 toexecute the staple-less binding processing on the sheets by using thestaple-less binding unit 214 b. When the staple-less binding processinghas been completed, the CPU 111 discharges the sheets to the dischargeportion 207, and the processing proceeds to step S620. In step S620, theCPU 111 determines whether printing has been completed. If printing ofthe set number of copies has not been completed (NO in step S620), theprocessing returns to step S617, and if printing of the set number ofcopies has been completed (YES in step S620), the copy processing isended.

Subsequently, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 8, descriptionwill be given to the processing that is to be executed when the numberof sheets to be printed exceeds the upper limit number of sheetsbindable by the staple-less binding processing (i.e., when “YES” in stepS615).

In step S801, the CPU 111 displays an inquiry screen (pop-up screen)regarding execution of the copy job. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating anexample of the inquiry screen displayed on the operation unit 116 by theCPU 111. Information 901 notifies the user that the staple-less bindingprocessing cannot be executed. Further, the information 901 also promptsthe user to select processing to be executed on the copy job.

A cancel key 902 is used when the user cancels execution of the copyjob. The user can cancel the copy job without outputting the printedmaterials by pressing the cancel key 902. An output sheets withoutbinding key 903 is used when the user executes printing withoutexecuting the binding processing. Further, an execute staple binding key904 is used when the user executes printing by changing the setting tothe staple binding processing.

The user can determine the processing to be executed on the copy job byselecting any one of the keys 902 to 904.

Returning to FIG. 8 in step S802, the CPU 111 determines whether theuser inputs an instruction for cancelling the copy job. If the cancelkey 902 is selected (YES in step S802), the processing proceeds to stepS803, and if the cancel key 902 is not selected (NO in step S802), theprocessing proceeds to step S804.

In step S803, the CPU 111 cancels execution of the copy job. Inaddition, if reading processing is asynchronously executed in step S603,the CPU 111 cancels that reading processing and discharges the documentthat is being conveyed through the ADF 300 to the discharge tray 322.When the cancellation processing of the copy job is completed, theprocessing proceeds to “C” in FIG. 6, so that a series of copyprocessing is ended.

In step S804, the CPU 111 determines whether the user inputs aninstruction for outputting the sheets without binding. If the outputsheets without binding key 903 is selected (YES in step S804), theprocessing proceeds to step S805, and if the output sheets withoutbinding key 903 is not selected (NO in step S804), the processingproceeds to step S806. In step S805, the CPU 111 changes the setting ofthe copy job to a setting which does not execute binding processing, andthe processing proceeds to the printing processing of “B (step S607)”and the subsequent steps in FIG. 6.

In step S806, the CPU 111 determines whether the user inputs aninstruction for changing the setting to the staple binding. If theexecute staple binding key 904 is selected (YES in step S806), theprocessing proceeds to step S807, and if the execute staple binding key904 is not selected (NO in step S806), the processing returns to stepS801, and the CPU 111 waits for the user instruction.

In step S807, the CPU 111 changes the setting regarding thepost-processing of the copy job to the staple binding processing, andthe processing proceeds to the printing processing of “B (step S607)”and the subsequent steps in FIG. 6.

In addition, the reading processing of the documents in step S603 isexecuted asynchronously and concurrently while the inquiry processingillustrated in steps S801 to S807 is being executed.

By executing the inquiry processing illustrated in steps S801 to 5807,the CPU 111 can control the copy job according to the intension of theuser.

As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, when thestaple-less binding processing is specified, the printing apparatusstarts printing after confirming that the number of sheets used forprinting does not exceed the upper limit number of sheets bindable bythe staple-less binding processing. Accordingly, with respect to thestaple-less binding processing, printing can be cancelled withoutoutputting any of the sheets as it is assumed that a possibility ofcausing a situation in which the binding processing cannot be executedis high.

On the other hand, if the staple binding processing is specified or thebinding processing is not specified, the printing apparatus startsprinting regardless of the number of sheets used for printing.Accordingly, with respect to the staple binding processing, the printingprocessing can be executed without lowering the printing efficiency asit is assumed that a possibility of causing a situation in which thebinding processing cannot be executed is lower than in the case of thestaple-less binding processing.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

In the first exemplary embodiment, although a copy function has beendescribed as an example of the function for printing an image on asheet, other embodiments are applicable to other printing controls. Forexample, another embodiment is applicable to printing control of storeddocuments (print data) stored in the MFP 101 or a server communicablewith the MFP 101. In this case, the user operates the operation unit 116to select a stored document to be printed. The processing in step S603and the subsequent steps may be executed when the user selects a startkey after selecting the stored document to be printed. In addition, instep S603, analysis processing of the print data is executed instead ofthe reading processing of documents.

An embodiment may be realized in such a manner that a program forrealizing one or more functions according to the above-describedexemplary embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus via anetwork or a storage medium, so that one or more processors in thesystem or the apparatus reads and executes the program. Further, thepresent invention can be also realized with a circuit (e.g., applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that realizes one or more functions.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, it is possible to providea user-friendly printing apparatus capable of switching the print starttiming according to the type of the binding processing.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) can also be realized by a computer of a system orapparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions(e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which mayalso be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits(e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performingthe functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or morecircuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g.,central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and mayinclude a network of separate computers or separate processors to readout and execute the computer executable instructions. The computerexecutable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example,from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include,for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, anoptical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD),or Blu-ray Disc (BD)TM), a flash memory device, a memory card, and thelike.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus; a printing unit configuredto print an image on a sheet; an operation unit; and a control unitconfigured to: receive a job for printing sheets of two or more copiesand for binding the sheets without staple; in a case where the number ofthe sheets per one copy is smaller than a threshold, control a bindingunit to bind the sheets of the two or more copies without staple inaccordance with the job; in a case where the number of the sheets perone copy is greater than the threshold, display an inquiry screen on theoperation unit before completion of printing on the sheets of a firstcopy; and in a case where an instruction for outputting the sheetswithout binding is input via the inquiry screen (S804), control thebinding unit to discharge the sheets of the two or more copies which arenot bound, without displaying the inquiry screen again.
 2. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reading unitconfigured to read a document image; wherein the printing unit printsthe images on the sheets on a basis of the document image read by thereading unit.
 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe control unit determines whether the number of the sheets of thefirst copy is greater than a threshold or not on a basis of number ofpages of the document image read by the reading unit.
 4. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit cancels the jobin a case where an instruction for cancelling job cancellation is inputvia the inquiry screen.
 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the control unit controls the binding unit to bind the sheets ofthe first copy with staples in a case where it is instructed to performstaple binding processing via the inquiry screen.
 6. A printingapparatus; a printing unit configured to print images on sheets; abinding unit configured to bind the sheets without staple; an operationunit; and a control unit configured to: receive a job for printingsheets of two or more copies and for binding the sheets without staple;in a case where the number of the sheets per one copy is smaller than athreshold, control the binding unit to bind the sheets of the two ormore copies without staple in accordance with the job; in a case wherethe number of the sheets per one copy is greater than the threshold,display an inquiry screen on the operation unit before completion ofprinting on the sheets of a first copy; and in a case where aninstruction for outputting the sheets without binding is input via theinquiry screen, control the binding unit to discharge the sheets of thetwo or more copies which are not bound, without displaying the inquiryscreen again.